A solicitor sold my property to a fraudster. Fraudster produced fake utility bill and a driving licence in my name (fake utility bills and driving licences can be bought for £5.00 on the internet). The law society’s recommends that as long as the documents are from an independent source they are acceptable to the solicitor […]

Hi, I just had my two flats out of date EPC assessments done and one failed.  The grade was G the lowest on the scale. I have been informed by the assessor that I cannot rent the flat with this low grade, and recommended I change the electric boiler to gas. We don’t have gas […]

I am selling up and last year I sold a flat and made the leasehold a shared freehold. The buyer had a survey done in March, and it showed up some works to be completed. He never told me of this survey nor its contents. The property completed in May. In November, during discussions with […]

DWP aren’t listening to Landlords, but if you contact your MP, they may listen to you. Benefit Landlords, keep complaining, there must be someone intelligent within DWP to finally see sense. This homelessness can be reduced. TWO years to get a complaint looked at where the Landlord has ZERO rent coming in is unacceptable & […]

Those who have read Douglas Murray’s recent fascinating book, The Madness of Crowds may have been struck by the parallel with Housing. Whilst Murray explains the Social justice movement effect on Gay, Feminist, Race and Transgender issues, the effects are far more reaching.  He makes the point that a generation who believe that they may […]

AS Libor linked mortgages are being phased out Lenders are working on an alternative arrangement. Does anyone have any further information on the replacement benchmark? Jo From the FCA: The interest rate benchmark LIBOR is expected to cease after end-2021. Firms must transition to alternative rates before this date. Transition to alternative risk-free rates Alongside […]

I would be interested to hear what the readers’ views and opinions are regarding my recent dealings with the Local Authority regarding an application to licence an HMO. By way of introduction, I am a landlord operating in the Midlands for just over 20 years. I have a number of smaller HMOs and several mandatory […]

I am looking to buy a bungalow to move out of the flat now, and have a 3-bedroom house rented out where I lived until I bought the flat to downsize in 2016. I am considering options. I have 20% cash for the bungalow. I could remortgage my rented house to raise the rest until […]

I have only one property, which is tenanted, and I am thinking about selling it, but I am not sure the best way to do this. I would like to sell it with the tenants in situ mainly because they have been good tenants and I want to avoid eviction. I have contacted a few […]

I had a property refurbished in 2015 which included the electrics bringing in line to BS7671 :2008 incorporating amendment 1:2011. This certificate stated that it was valid for 10 years. As you all know, the government has now made it compulsory and my letting agents have let me know accordingly and advised me that my […]

So you’ve incorporated your property portfolio into a limited company, now there’s a whole world of refinancing and finance raising options open to you. This video is all about explaining which option is best for you. Post Incorporation Refinancing Explained by Dak Lam, Mark Alexander, Mark Smith & myself.

A recent incident in my own HMO with fan heaters plugged in but hidden behind bedding making the place an absolute death trap made me realise just how little tenants (and indeed most landlords) understand about fire safety. Most tenants, and many landlords, don’t really comprehend that, even with modern ‘fire-resistant’ furniture, fire can progress […]

An “accountability deficit” exists within Rent Smart Wales (RSW), the nation’s registration and licensing authority for the private rented sector, according to a report published by the NRLA today.  The report, Rent Smart Wales: The Accountability Gap, published by the National Residential Landlords Association representing over 85,000 members across England & Wales, was undertaken to […]

The Welsh Government have announced that the suspension on eviction enforcement due to end on 11 January will be extended to the end of March 2021. The Welsh Government will review this every three weeks. The regulations can be read here and the explanatory memorandum here. The Minister’s written statement is here The suspension does […]

The Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick,  has announced renters will continue to be supported during the new national restrictions, with an extension to the ban on bailiff evictions for all but the most egregious cases until at least 21 February with measures kept under review. Communities Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:  “We are also […]

The Scottish Government has announced the temporary ban on eviction orders will be extended until the end of March. Regulations will be laid in the Scottish Parliament on 14 January to extend the current ban, which is in place at present until 22 January. The extended ban will apply to all evictions in areas subject […]

Now with the announcement today of increasing the lease to 990 years at zero ground rent and abolition of Marriage Value which may take a year or two to become law. What will happen now for leases extensions that have been agreed or in process of completion presumably many leaseholders will delay the extension or […]

Has anyone had any dealings with Birmingham City Council in regard to the use of Registered Providers? I have been trying to determine with BCC directly of the RP’s they use, how they rate and assess them. A very simple email was sent from me highlighting that while the list is in the public domain, […]

Over the past 20 years of buying and selling houses, I’ve always tried to do my own conveyancing, unless a mortgage was involved. I do this to keep in close contact with the sale and because I tend to be far quicker and (dare I add) at least as efficient as most solicitors. Recently, more […]

Hi All, I just want some advice on a prospective property purchase. A block of 4 purpose-built flats on one freehold title (is that an issue?) and they are all 1 beds. £265k purchase price with £2k rent pcm (pretty healthy demand and already fully let). On the face of it seems like a pretty […]

In a joint statement following the reintroduction of a national lockdown, the National Residential Landlords Association, The Big Issue and Ride Out Recession Alliance, Shelter, ARLA Propertymark, the Nationwide Building Society, and StepChange the Debt Charity have said: “Many thousands of private renters and landlords across the country now face rent arrears due to the […]